poach

Poach is defined as to cook in a liquid that is simmering or boiling, or to take something illegally or unfairly, especially game.

An example of to poach is to cook a salmon steak in white wine.

An example of to poach is to hunt a turkey from someone else's property.

poach

transitive verb

to cook (fish, an egg without its shell, etc.) in water or other liquid near boiling point, or in a small receptacle placed over boiling water

Origin of poach

Middle English pochen ; from Middle French pochier, to pocket ; from poche, pouch, pocket (; from Frankish an unverified form pokka, pocket: for Indo-European base see poke): the yolk is “pocketed” in the white

transitive verb

to soften, tear up, or make holes in (ground) by stamping; trample

to mix with water until smooth

to trespass on (private property), esp. for hunting or fishing

to hunt or catch (game or fish) illegally, esp. by trespassing

to take (anything) by unfair or illegal methods; steal

Origin of poach

French pocher ; from Old French pochier, to tread upon, intrude ; from Middle High German bochen, puchen, to strike upon, plunder, akin to poke

intransitive verb

to sink into soft or wet earth when walking

to become soggy or full of holes when trampled; turn into mud

to hunt or fish illegally, esp. by trespassing on

Racket Sports to return a shot near the net that was intended for one's partner in the back court

poach

transitive verb

poached, poach·ing, poach·es

To cook in a boiling or simmering liquid: Poach the fish in wine.

Origin of poach

Back-formation from Middle English poched, poached, from poche, dish of poached eggs, from Old French, from past participle of pochier, to poach eggs, from poche, pocket, bag (from their appearance), of Germanic origin.

Related Forms:

poach′a·ble

adjective

verb

poached, poach·ing, poach·es

verb

, intransitive

To take fish or game illegally, especially by trespassing on another's property.

a. To take or appropriate something unfairly or illegally.

b. To encroach on another person's rights or responsibilities: felt the guys in accounting were poaching on his turf.

c. Sports To play a ball out of turn or in another's territory, as in doubles tennis.

To become muddy or broken up from being trampled. Used of land.

To sink into soft earth when walking.

verb

, transitive

To take (fish or game) illegally, especially by trespassing on another's property.

a. To take or appropriate unfairly or illegally: poaching another firm's best employees.

b. Sports To play (a ball) out of turn or in another's territory.

To make (land) muddy or broken up by trampling.

Origin of poach

Obsolete French pocher, to poke, thrust, intrude, from Old French pochier, to poke, gouge, of Germanic origin.